Solution Salt Mining Summary

Solution Salt Mining

Approximately 8,500 square miles of New York State are underlain by rock salt beds of potential commercial thickness. New York's salt deposits occur layered with shale, dolomite, and anhydrite in the lower part of the Silurian-aged Salina group. Salt is mined in New York via two methods: underground rock salt mining and solution mining. New York typically ranks third in total salt mined among the salt-producing states in the United States.

Solution Mining Statistics - 2015

Solution mining operations for salt recovery, in the form of brine, currently take place at two fields in Schuyler County and three fields in Wyoming County

Plugged wells at current facilities: 245

Unplugged wells at current facilities: 173

Fresh water injected: 1.86 billion gallons

Brine withdrawn: 1.84 billion gallons

How the Salt Is Used

Brine is brought to the surface for evaporation or chemical manufacturing. Salt mined in New York State is used for chlorine and soda ash production as well as for food products and for a wide range of market segments, including agricultural, water conditioning, industrial and chemical, and packaged ice control. Customers range from home improvement, hardware, grocery and convenience store retailers, to food makers/processors, water conditioning dealers, and food service and general wholesale distribution.

The Department estimates that the annual value of salt production from solution mining in New York is approximately $100 million.

Map of underground gas storage and solution mining fields.
Click on the map for a larger image.